In cortical neurons, you can identify the following five sub-cellular compartments. If you were to apply a sub-threshold current step of fixed amplitude to each one of them, where would you evoke the smallest change in membrane potential?

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The soma (cell body) of cortical neurons has a relatively large surface area compared to other sub-cellular compartments like dendrites or the axon initial segment. When a sub-threshold current is applied, the change in membrane potential is dispersed over this larger area, resulting in a smaller change in membrane potential compared to more spatially restricted areas like the axon initial segment or dendrites.

In Cortical Neurons, You Can Identify the Following Five Sub-Cellular